Python Developer & Automation Lead

Barclays; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services company is seeking a Python Developer & Automation Lead in Glasgow. The successful candidate will lead engineering teams, enhance automation, and drive governance within DevSecOps. The role demands proficiency in Python, GitLab, and CI/CD practices. Candidates should possess strong analytical skills and a collaborative mindset, ensuring alignment with business objectives. This position promotes a culture of innovation and technical excellence.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Gherkin for testing.
• Hands-on experience in development, automation, and infrastructure as code.
• In-depth experience with automation tools and deployment pipelines.
• Familiarity with automation frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering teams effectively to achieve project goals.
• Oversee timelines, risk management, and task prioritization.
• Mentor team members and conduct performance reviews.
• Evaluate engineering processes to increase efficiency.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate requirements into solutions.
• Enforce technology standards and implement testing practices.

Skills

Proficiency in Python

Hands-on experience with GitLab

Strong analytical skills

Experience with CI/CD practices

Experience with Ansible

Experience with Jenkins

Tools

GitLab

Jenkins

CI/CD Tools

Ansible

Chef

Job description

Python Developer & Automation Lead – Overview

Join Barclays as a Python Developer & Automation Lead, where you’ll play a critical role in driving automation, enhancing security, and shaping governance within a dynamic DevSecOps environment. This is a high‑impact, hands‑on position where you'll work with modern automation tools, scripting languages, and CI/CD pipelines, while also influencing strategic decisions and collaborating across global teams. You’ll work closely with colleagues in both the UK and India, ensuring alignment on automation initiatives and best practices.

Key Qualifications

• Proficiency in Python, Gherkin (for testing), Java, and SQL.
• Hands‑on experience with GitLab.
• Strong analytical skill and hands‑on experience in development, automation, and infrastructure as code.
• Engineering Data analysis leveraging AI and agentic automation.
• In‑depth experience with automation tools and deployment pipelines.
• Familiarity with CI/CD practices and automation frameworks.

Other Highly Valued Skills

• Experience with configuration management tools such as Ansible and Chef.
• An understanding of Shift Left and Shift Right testing approaches.
• Experience with BDD (Behavior‑Driven Development) and TDD (Test‑Driven Development).
• Hands‑on experience with Jenkins, TeamCity, and Nolio.
• Experience with test automation tools for regression and performance testing.

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen, strategic thinking, and digital and technology, as well as job‑specific technical skills.

This role will be based in Glasgow and Knutsford.

Purpose of the role

To lead and manage engineering teams, providing technical guidance, mentorship, and support to ensure the delivery of high‑quality software solutions, driving technical excellence, fostering a culture of innovation, and collaborating with cross‑functional teams to align technical decisions with business objectives.

Accountabilities

• Lead engineering teams effectively, fostering a collaborative and high‑performance culture to achieve project goals and meet organizational objectives.
• Oversee timelines, team allocation, risk management and task prioritization to ensure the successful delivery of solutions within scope, time and budget.
• Mentor and support team members' professional growth, conduct performance reviews, provide actionable feedback and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Evaluation and enhancement of engineering processes, tools and methodologies to increase efficiency, streamline workflows and optimize team productivity.
• Collaboration with business partners, product managers, designers and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions and ensure a cohesive approach to product development.
• Enforcement of technology standards, facilitate peer reviews and implement robust testing practices to ensure the delivery of high‑quality solutions.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.